Cristiano Ronaldo pushing for Al-Nassr to swoop for Man Utd target as Saudi Pro League side prepare €20m contract offer

Rabiot has been a free agent since his contract with Juventus expired at the end of June. Despite interest from several European clubs, the 28-year-old midfielder has yet to finalize his next move. According to Corriere dello Sport, Al-Nassr have emerged as a serious contender, offering him around €20m (£17m/$22m) in wages per season.

As with all of Rabiot’s career decisions, the negotiations are being handled by his mother, Veronique Rabiot, who also acts as his agent. However, it remains unclear whether Rabiot is tempted by the prospect of moving to Saudi Arabia at this stage. Ronaldo could play a pivotal role in persuading Rabiot to make the switch to Riyadh as the duo had been together at Juventus and the Portugal star is eager for the midfielder to make the move.

One of the potential hurdles in the negotiations revolves around the foreign player quota in the Saudi Pro League. Since December, the league has capped the number of foreign players per team at ten, which could complicate Al-Nassr’s plans to bring in Rabiot. However, there are suggestions that an annual exemption could be made to accommodate the Frenchman.

One of the key considerations for Rabiot will be the impact a move to Saudi Arabia could have on his standing with the French national team. However, the example of N'Golo Kanté, who joined Al-Ittihad earlier this year, suggests that playing in the Saudi Pro League does not necessarily mean the end of a player's international career.

Kanté was included in France’s squad for Euro 2024 and remains part of the national team setup, proving that a move to Saudi Arabia does not automatically disqualify players from competing at the highest level internationally. Rabiot could follow a similar path, enjoying the financial benefits of playing in Saudi Arabia while still being eligible for selection by France.